Page 97 of Thirst For Me
I’m already back at the smoothie bar before I realize that the ribbon says, with a big smiley face:Nice guys finish last.
I leave it on, just because Mason gave it to me.
Pathetic.
Cutie Fruitie is one of the locations on the kids’ scavenger hunt today, and we give out hundreds of Cutie Fruitie coupons, which bring a steady stream of families through the door. By closing time, I’m pooped.
Sophie and I stagger over to the beer and cider garden, and I don’t know if I’m just exhausted and deliriously sleep-deprived, but I’m flooded with this incredible warmth when I see Trish, Maria, and Pamela saving seats for us.
My new friends.
Not friends by association—people who go through the motions of allowing me into their lives because they’re actually friends with my boyfriend.
Real friends, who smile when they see me, wave at me from across a crowd, and save me a seat, hoping I’ll show up.
Such a simple pleasure, but one I’ve been missing in my life.
They’re already drinking, so Soph and I order from the waitress. The Sea Haven Honeyed Perry “patio-style pear cider” she recommends is just the crisp, tart-but-sweet refreshment I need on this perfect, warm summer night. The sky is a clear, dark blue shifting to black, and the stars are out. And Layne is playing guitar on the main stage with his band: a group of friends who’ve jammed together for fun ever since high school, according to Trish.
The music, too, is warm. They’re playing a cover of “One of These Nights” by the Eagles, and they’regood. After a long day listening to neon-bright music likeBlackpinkand Wham!, my favorite kind to play at the smoothie bar, it’s a welcome change.
I check out the crowd, wondering if I’ll run into Mason, if he’s here or inside the bar.
I wonder how much June’s been around.
I know Cutie Fruitie has not been as popular as Mason’s business. I know he’s outselling me bya lot. And he told me that I don’t need to point this out to June.
Maybe I don’t. But maybe I should make a proactive move, before she decides Pier Seven would be better off without Cutie Fruitie. I’ve managed to bring on some solid employees, and I know I can make it work for the rest of the summer.
I just need to find out if she sees any future here for me.
The festival is over tomorrow, and reality is going to set in. I need to know that my business has a temporary home here, and if not ... I need to start looking elsewhere, like now.
Soph leans in. “Do you need to call Kyle back? You can use my phone.”
“Uh ... no.” He called her today, trying to reach me. Again.
“Well, what did he want? You look stressed.”
“It’s not that.” Weirdly, I haven’t told her that I’ve screwed Mason, twice. I don’t even know why. Maybe I’m just not ready for the truth bombs I know she’ll drop on me when she intuits thatI’m developing serious feels. How can I remain in denial if my best friend smacks me in the face with reality? “Kyle just said he’s been watching my socials, that he’s seen how I’m ‘killing it’ in Orchard Cove.” I roll my eyes and wash down my resentment with pear-and-honey cider.
“Do you think he misses you? Regrets what he did? Because he fucking should.”
“I don’t know.” Honestly, the call confused me.Doeshe miss me? “Or maybe he just wants to be able to convince himself that he’s not the bad guy? I have no idea.” I had to hang up on him again because I was busy working. I said I’d call him back, but ...
I find myself scanning the crowd for Mason, again, who I’d much rather talk to. I don’t see him, but I do spot June. Standing on the sidewalk across the street, just beyond the concert crowd, talking to Bev.
“Shit.” I take a big gulp of cider then tell Soph, “I’ll be back. I need to talk to June about the lease.”
“Good luck!” she calls after me.
I dash through the crowd, but by the time I get across the street, June’s not with Bev anymore. I glimpse her silvery hair; she’s walking toward the pier, but when I get there, she’s already heading down the steps to the beach.
“Hey, June.” I catch up with her at the bottom of the steps and we walk together onto the sand. “Where are you headed?”
“To help set up the bonfire area. Are you coming down?”
“Yeah, I’ll probably come later. After the band is finished. I was wondering, can we discuss the lease?” I stop walking and she stops with me. “I’d be happy to show you my sales numbers, so you can see how well we’ve been doing—”
